Sport-related Injuries Overview

Principles

Definition

Sport-related injuries is an academic concept encompassing the study of injuries sustained during physical activity, investigating their etiology, prevention, and management. This multidisciplinary research field examines biomechanical, physiological, psychological, and environmental factors contributing to injury risk, develops strategies for prevention and intervention, and evaluates diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Its significance lies in enhancing athlete health, optimizing performance, and improving safety protocols across various sports and populations.

Ontological type

Prevention Strategies

Risk Factors

Injury Epidemiology

Key developments

Key Figures

Measurement-driven Biomechanics era

Jay Hertel [1] has shaped measurement-driven biomechanics through affiliations with the Pennsylvania State University [2] and the University of Virginia [3] during the 1973–2008 era. In the 2002 paper Functional Anatomy, Pathomechanics, and Pathophysiology of Lateral Ankle Instability [4], Hertel delineated the anatomy, mechanics, and pathophysiology of lateral ankle instability, a contribution that clarified movement-based injury mechanisms and informed prevention and rehabilitation strategies. His work at Pennsylvania State University [2] and University of Virginia [3] bridged quantitative biomechanics with prospective injury surveillance, enabling standardized assessment and movement analysis to guide return-to-play decisions. Together, these efforts fostered the era's measurement-driven approach by translating biomechanical insights into targeted prevention frameworks and neuromuscular rehabilitation strategies.

Risk-guided Management era

Lars Engebretsen[1], active in sport science during the Risk-guided Management era, was affiliated with the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences[3] and the University of Minnesota[4]. His key contributions include underpinning the Consensus statement on Concussion in Sport – The 4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Zurich, November 2012[6] and How much is too much? (Part 1) International Olympic Committee consensus statement on load in sport and risk of injury[7], which shaped standardized return-to-play criteria and risk-informed load management. Martin Raftery[2], of Queen Mary University of London[5], contributed to the Consensus statement on Concussion in Sport[6] and How much is too much? (Part 1) International Olympic Committee consensus statement on load in sport and risk of injury[7], reinforcing the trans-institutional basis for risk-informed guidelines. This collaborative work by Raftery[2] at Queen Mary University of London[5] helped translate risk-guided standardization into clinical workflows that integrate biomechanical and epidemiologic risk factors for safer return-to-sport decisions.

Holistic Athlete Surveillance era

Margot Putukian [1] is a leading figure in athlete health research during the Holistic Athlete Surveillance era, with affiliations at Harvard University [3] and the University of Pennsylvania [4]. Her work on Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2019) [7] helped establish standardized mental health definitions and reporting practices, enabling longitudinal surveillance across settings and informing prevention priorities. Lars Engebretsen [2] is a leading figure in sports science with roles at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences [5] and the University of Minnesota [6] in this era. His work on Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2019) [7] contributed to harmonizing mental health surveillance in elite sport, supporting cross-site comparability and data-driven policy for athlete well-being.